Yogurt is an inherently healthy food, boasting a wide variety of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Moreover, the live "friendly" bacteria contained in yogurt may significantly improve immune function. According to World's Healthiest Foods, a daily serving of yogurt with probiotics such as lactobacillus casei may enhance your body's ability to fight off infection. Yogurt made by Weight Watchers boasts the added advantage of being low in calories and fat while retaining the other health benefits of yogurt. Weight Watchers yogurts are also low in points value, which is the measure of a food's dietary allotment in this program. According to the Weight Watchers website, this yogurt has one point per serving.
Low in Calories and Fat
The yogurts offered by Weight Watchers are, as you might expect, low in calories and fat. Most of the yogurt flavors are about 100 to 120 calories per serving. Serving sizes vary from smaller, 4-oz. portion sizes at 70 calories per serving, to 6-oz. cups at 100 calories. The yogurt is available in vanilla and plain in a quart size, with an 8-oz. serving of 100 calories for plain and 120 calories for vanilla. Most of the yogurts are listed as "nonfat" on the Weight Watchers website.
High in Fiber and Protein
Weight Watchers yogurts are also rich in protein, fiber and various other added nutrients. According to the Weight Watchers website, an 8-oz. serving of the vanilla yogurt contains 8 g of protein and 3 g of fiber, and is enriched with vitamins A and D. An 8-oz. serving of the plain yogurt contains 9 g of protein, 4 g of fiber and is fortified with vitamins A and D. A 6-oz. serving of the Apple Pie a la Mode flavor contains 6 g of protein and 3 g of fiber.
Probiotic/Prebiotic Benefits
In addition to potential benefits to the immune system, probiotic or "friendly" bacteria in yogurt may help balance intestinal flora, or bacteria in the intestines, reports the Weight Watchers website. By maintaining a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria in your intestines, you may experience decreased signs of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, lactose intolerance and other gastrointestinal problems. In addition, the probiotics in yogurt may improve your absorption of calcium. While there is some data suggesting these benefits, there is not sufficient evidence to consider yogurt a medical cure for any condition.
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